Screen Door Latch

[ColoradoRick]

Okay, Rocky owners, I need advise.

I just bought the 3rd or 4th small latch hoping it will be what we need to latch the darn screen doors shut...but isn't working.

We have two chihuahuas and discovered if they bump the doors they open right up...one fell right down the steps the last time we went camping.

I've adjusted the slot on the door jam where the catch for the door goes into but it's not very secure.

Anybody have a solution other than just putting up baby gates?

[heavynlori]

Do you have that folding handle on the outside? We fold that against screen door so our lab does not push it open - he likes to lay there and people watch

[Fivealive]

Originally Posted by ColoradoRick

Okay, Rocky owners, I need advise.

I just bought the 3rd or 4th small latch hoping it will be what we need to latch the darn screen doors shut...but isn't working.

We have two chihuahuas and discovered if they bump the doors they open right up...one fell right down the steps the last time we went camping.

I've adjusted the slot on the door jam where the catch for the door goes into but it's not very secure.

Anybody have a solution other than just putting up baby gates?

You could try a clam shaped or other cover make from bottle plastic or something similar mounted over the latch to guard it from bumping open. Just make sure it is finger friendly when you reach in to open the door. If you mean the dogs are forcing the door open, try mounting another strike plate over the existing one. Our dogs have figured out how to pull the latch on our door down. I used a door guard screen to prevent them from getting their paws on the latch handle.

[ColoradoRick]

Originally Posted by heavynlori

Do you have that folding handle on the outside? We fold that against screen door so our lab does not push it open - he likes to lay there and people watch

No, we don't have a folding handle on the outside.

[ColoradoRick]

Originally Posted by Fivealive

You could try a clam shaped or other cover make from bottle plastic or something similar mounted over the latch to guard it from bumping open. Just make sure it is finger friendly when you reach in to open the door. If you mean the dogs are forcing the door open, try mounting another strike plate over the existing one. Our dogs have figured out how to pull the latch on our door down. I used a door guard screen to prevent them from getting their paws on the latch handle.

I think it's the tab that is supposed to go into the groove on the door jam that's the problem. It doesn't go in very far so is very easy to pop out, just touching the screen door can make the door open right up.

[awellis3]

Originally Posted by ColoradoRick

Anybody have a solution other than just putting up baby gates?

Yes. Go to the hardware store and get a sliding cabinet latch. It is black to match the door. You can lock/unlock by reaching through the slide. Cheap, simple and has that "OEM look." Here's a pic of mine. It's so unobtrusive, it's hard to see.


Works great.

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by ColoradoRick

Okay, Rocky owners, I need advise.
I just bought the 3rd or 4th small latch hoping it will be what we need to latch the darn screen doors shut...but isn't working.
We have two chihuahuas and discovered if they bump the doors they open right up...one fell right down the steps the last time we went camping.
I've adjusted the slot on the door jam where the catch for the door goes into but it's not very secure.
Anybody have a solution other than just putting up baby gates?

Would it not be better to train the pups to not bump the door? We have a 4 yr old mutt that after about a week, learned not to touch the screen door.

[Charliec]

Good idea awellis3. Thanks for the post with picture

[TURBS]

Originally Posted by OldCoot

Would it not be better to train the pups to not bump the door? We have a 4 yr old mutt that after about a week, learned not to touch the screen door.

We don't agree on much however, I agree with you on this.
I'm a pretty big stickler when it comes to dogs and there behavior.
Full week in goshen and my dogs never barked once.

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by TURBS

We don't agree on much however, I agree with you on this.
I'm a pretty big stickler when it comes to dogs and there behavior.
Full week in goshen and my dogs never barked once.

The only time our mutt barks is when someone knocks on the door. Have had numerous camping neighbors ask us "Does your dog ever bark?" and we chuckle and say "Let us put her in the camper and then knock on the door."

[caper]

The latch should have an adjustment to make it more secure. If your trailer is not level it will make a difference on how the latch works.

[donanddona]

I once ordered the right handed handle instead of the left handed handle. The right handed handle has the shaped tonged on the wrong side. When the screen door was closed you had a very hard time closing the door. I had to open the screen and then latch it to the door to close the door in a normal manner.

[awellis3]

Originally Posted by OldCoot

Would it not be better to train the pups to not bump the door? We have a 4 yr old mutt that after about a week, learned not to touch the screen door.

One dog or cat - OK (maybe). Ever see two cats playing "catch me if you can"? They swoop and swirl, bouncing off all kinds sofa backs, chairs, walls and, yup, screen doors.
If they're not playing, they don't touch the screen. They do this:


The latch is for piece of mind. You'd have a hard time convincing me that even a well-trained pet could withstand a squirrel sitting on the steps, looking in the screen door.

[TURBS]

Originally Posted by awellis3

The latch is for piece of mind. You'd have a hard time convincing me that even a well-trained pet could withstand a squirrel sitting on the steps, looking in the screen door.

Lol I'd put money on mine!

[ColoradoRick]

Originally Posted by awellis3

One dog or cat - OK (maybe). Ever see two cats playing "catch me if you can"? They swoop and swirl, bouncing off all kinds sofa backs, chairs, walls and, yup, screen doors.
If they're not playing, they don't touch the screen. They do this:


The latch is for piece of mind. You'd have a hard time convincing me that even a well-trained pet could withstand a squirrel sitting on the steps, looking in the screen door.

Exactly...animals love watching outside the door!!

We, also, sometimes bring our grandkids with us and want a more secure door.

[DreiHunde]

Originally Posted by TURBS

Lol I'd put money on mine!

My three fuzz heads did really really good the last time out when a very, VERY rude squirrel decided to sit on the rug and stare in the door at them! Just some whining could be heard and the "please dad please....open the door!" looks!

But I still enjoy the peace of mind of the latch I installed! Now I am sure that if I or the DW were in "harms way" outside then that door wouldn't stand a chance!

[TURBS]

Originally Posted by DreiHunde

My three fuzz heads did really really good the last time out when a very, VERY rude squirrel decided to sit on the rug and stare in the door at them! Just some whining could be heard and the "please dad please....open the door!" looks!

But I still enjoy the peace of mind of the latch I installed! Now I am sure that if I or the DW were in "harms way" outside then that door wouldn't stand a chance![emoji106]

Door latched [emoji818]

TURBS

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by TURBS

Lol I'd put money on mine!

Me too on ours.

[ColoradoRick]

Originally Posted by DreiHunde

My three fuzz heads did really really good the last time out when a very, VERY rude squirrel decided to sit on the rug and stare in the door at them! Just some whining could be heard and the "please dad please....open the door!" looks!

But I still enjoy the peace of mind of the latch I installed! Now I am sure that if I or the DW were in "harms way" outside then that door wouldn't stand a chance!

Hey, I have one of those latches but after I bought it I didn't think it would work...looks like you got it working just fine...so I'll give it a shot!!

[DreiHunde]

Thanks! It works great and easy to open from the outside!